CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Treasury Units	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Partners' Capital Common Units	Partners' Capital General Partner Units
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 423,766	$ (758)	$ (9,313)	$ 420,960	$ 12,877
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2011				37,308,402	757,722
Treasury Units Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2011		(33,811)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital
Issuance of common units for vesting of phantom units (in units)				31,701
Treasury units purchased	(165)	(165)
Treasury units purchased (in units)		(6,990)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units	114,530			114,530
Net proceeds from issuance of common units (in units)				4,965,000
Proceeds from sale of general partner units to Exterran Holdings	2,426				2,426
Proceeds from sale of general partner units to Exterran Holdings (in units)					100,861
Acquisition of a portion of Exterran Holdings' U.S. contract operations business	(28,221)			(28,221)
Contribution of capital, net	15,566			15,340	226
Excess of purchase price of equipment over Exterran Holdings' cost of equipment	(5,505)			(5,170)	(335)
Cash distributions	(64,822)			(60,624)	(4,198)
Unit-based compensation expense	646			646
Interest rate swap gain (loss), net of reclassification to earnings	(2,427)		(2,427)
Amortization of terminated interest rate swaps	790		790
Net income (loss)	(4,165)			(7,295)	3,130
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	452,419	(923)	(10,950)	450,166	14,126
Balance (in units) at Sep. 30, 2012				42,305,103	858,583
Treasury Units Balance (in units) at Sep. 30, 2012		(40,801)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	439,000	(983)	(10,094)	436,587	13,490
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2012				42,313,731	858,583
Treasury Units Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2012	(43,630)	(43,630)
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital
Issuance of common units for vesting of phantom units (in units)				19,643
Treasury units purchased	(91)	(91)
Treasury units purchased (in units)		(3,790)
Acquisition of a portion of Exterran Holdings' U.S. contract operations business	161,650			158,417	3,233
Acquisition of a portion of Exterran Holdings' U.S. contract operations business (in units)				7,123,527	144,644
Transaction costs for registration of units	(68)			(68)
Contribution of capital, net	28,057			27,540	517
Excess of purchase price of equipment over Exterran Holdings' cost of equipment	(7,913)			(7,445)	(468)
Cash distributions	(78,856)			(73,051)	(5,805)
Unit-based compensation expense	858			858
Interest rate swap gain (loss), net of reclassification to earnings	4,362		4,362
Amortization of terminated interest rate swaps	1,761		1,761
Net income (loss)	52,664			46,870	5,794
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 601,424	$ (1,074)	$ (3,971)	$ 589,708	$ 16,761
Balance (in units) at Sep. 30, 2013				49,456,901	1,003,227
Treasury Units Balance (in units) at Sep. 30, 2013	(47,420)	(47,420)